OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

I need the solutions manual first, 03 Feb 1998
Where can I obtain a solutions manual?

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

I need the solutions manual first, 03 Feb 1998
Where can I obtain a solutions manual?

I have also been to Dr. Acheson's lectures, 25 Feb 2000
I think that the previous reviewer was a little optimistic. Acheson is a reasonable lecturer and this book does follow the first part of the Oxford University mathematics first year mechanics course well (in fact some of his problem sheets come straight from the book making it easy to complete said problem sheets!). However, the book goes into lots of, although interesting, unnecessary detail. It also does not contain anything on rotating frames of reference which is in the mechanics course at Oxford. So my advice is not to buy this book as a course guide but to get "A first course in Mechanics" by Lunn instead. However, if you want to get this book for interest then it is well worth it.

I've been to this guy's lectures, 01 Dec 1999
He's a good lecturer, doing the 1st term mechanics course (maths, the previous reviewer should note) at Oxford, much of which (and more) is covered in this book. And the book is quite decent too, especially for those such as myself who dislike mechanics dreadfully and who think it should be an option rather than an imposition - for goodness sakes, as the other reviewer implies, it just isn't maths. Still, if you are doing first year mechanics, buy this book - he has some great ideas and methods.

Excellent "interactive" introduction to nonlinear dynamics, 08 Jul 1999
This is an excellent overview of dynamics from the birth of calculus to the latest research in nonlinear dynamics - it bears all the marks of being well-honed under the test of teaching the material to students. As a physicist, Acheson doesn't get hung up on mathematical niceties at the expense of the meaning of things. A great feature is the inclusion of little computer programs written in QBASIC so that you can explore things for yourself. In the mid-1980s there were dozens of books that took this programming approach; all power to Acheson for reviving it in the face of "multimedia maths".

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

I need the solutions manual first, 03 Feb 1998
Where can I obtain a solutions manual?

I have also been to Dr. Acheson's lectures, 25 Feb 2000
I think that the previous reviewer was a little optimistic. Acheson is a reasonable lecturer and this book does follow the first part of the Oxford University mathematics first year mechanics course well (in fact some of his problem sheets come straight from the book making it easy to complete said problem sheets!). However, the book goes into lots of, although interesting, unnecessary detail. It also does not contain anything on rotating frames of reference which is in the mechanics course at Oxford. So my advice is not to buy this book as a course guide but to get "A first course in Mechanics" by Lunn instead. However, if you want to get this book for interest then it is well worth it.

I've been to this guy's lectures, 01 Dec 1999
He's a good lecturer, doing the 1st term mechanics course (maths, the previous reviewer should note) at Oxford, much of which (and more) is covered in this book. And the book is quite decent too, especially for those such as myself who dislike mechanics dreadfully and who think it should be an option rather than an imposition - for goodness sakes, as the other reviewer implies, it just isn't maths. Still, if you are doing first year mechanics, buy this book - he has some great ideas and methods.

Excellent "interactive" introduction to nonlinear dynamics, 08 Jul 1999
This is an excellent overview of dynamics from the birth of calculus to the latest research in nonlinear dynamics - it bears all the marks of being well-honed under the test of teaching the material to students. As a physicist, Acheson doesn't get hung up on mathematical niceties at the expense of the meaning of things. A great feature is the inclusion of little computer programs written in QBASIC so that you can explore things for yourself. In the mid-1980s there were dozens of books that took this programming approach; all power to Acheson for reviving it in the face of "multimedia maths".

truly the basic handbook for anyone interested in submarines, 17 Apr 2001
The book is understandably written and the major aspects of submarine design, principles and structure are explained in a very comprehensive and illustrative manner. An overvieuw of the first submarines gives you an understanding of the evolution in submarine design. Although the book focuses more on military submarines all basic principles are explained and taken into account. From bouyancy, trim, weight assesments everything is explained in basic terms. The book is not complete in a way that someone could actually design a submarine (for example you would have to read and understand more about hydraulics or high pressure valves, air cleaningsystems and so on) but in essence all major topics are included as with the prelimary formula's (for example stability calculations or pressure hull weight). In other words the book is complete and I would consider it the basic handbook in understanding the principles in submarine design for submarine enthousiasts or naval architecs. The book starts with explaining the basic terminology which is needed to understand the rest of the material, it reads very easily so anyone with a mere interest in submersibles (not only naval architects)can enjoy the matters which the authors are dealing with. As mentioned before the book is more focused on military submarines (explaining the role of the submarine, submarine tactics, nuclear propulsion vs diesel electric or a comparison on how torpedo's can be launched). This too is quite interesting even for those who do not specifically search for data on military submarine's. I can recomend this book to anyone interested in the technical aspects of submarine's and I am certain that you will enjoy it as i did.

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

I need the solutions manual first, 03 Feb 1998
Where can I obtain a solutions manual?

I have also been to Dr. Acheson's lectures, 25 Feb 2000
I think that the previous reviewer was a little optimistic. Acheson is a reasonable lecturer and this book does follow the first part of the Oxford University mathematics first year mechanics course well (in fact some of his problem sheets come straight from the book making it easy to complete said problem sheets!). However, the book goes into lots of, although interesting, unnecessary detail. It also does not contain anything on rotating frames of reference which is in the mechanics course at Oxford. So my advice is not to buy this book as a course guide but to get "A first course in Mechanics" by Lunn instead. However, if you want to get this book for interest then it is well worth it.

I've been to this guy's lectures, 01 Dec 1999
He's a good lecturer, doing the 1st term mechanics course (maths, the previous reviewer should note) at Oxford, much of which (and more) is covered in this book. And the book is quite decent too, especially for those such as myself who dislike mechanics dreadfully and who think it should be an option rather than an imposition - for goodness sakes, as the other reviewer implies, it just isn't maths. Still, if you are doing first year mechanics, buy this book - he has some great ideas and methods.

Excellent "interactive" introduction to nonlinear dynamics, 08 Jul 1999
This is an excellent overview of dynamics from the birth of calculus to the latest research in nonlinear dynamics - it bears all the marks of being well-honed under the test of teaching the material to students. As a physicist, Acheson doesn't get hung up on mathematical niceties at the expense of the meaning of things. A great feature is the inclusion of little computer programs written in QBASIC so that you can explore things for yourself. In the mid-1980s there were dozens of books that took this programming approach; all power to Acheson for reviving it in the face of "multimedia maths".

truly the basic handbook for anyone interested in submarines, 17 Apr 2001
The book is understandably written and the major aspects of submarine design, principles and structure are explained in a very comprehensive and illustrative manner. An overvieuw of the first submarines gives you an understanding of the evolution in submarine design. Although the book focuses more on military submarines all basic principles are explained and taken into account. From bouyancy, trim, weight assesments everything is explained in basic terms. The book is not complete in a way that someone could actually design a submarine (for example you would have to read and understand more about hydraulics or high pressure valves, air cleaningsystems and so on) but in essence all major topics are included as with the prelimary formula's (for example stability calculations or pressure hull weight). In other words the book is complete and I would consider it the basic handbook in understanding the principles in submarine design for submarine enthousiasts or naval architecs. The book starts with explaining the basic terminology which is needed to understand the rest of the material, it reads very easily so anyone with a mere interest in submersibles (not only naval architects)can enjoy the matters which the authors are dealing with. As mentioned before the book is more focused on military submarines (explaining the role of the submarine, submarine tactics, nuclear propulsion vs diesel electric or a comparison on how torpedo's can be launched). This too is quite interesting even for those who do not specifically search for data on military submarine's. I can recomend this book to anyone interested in the technical aspects of submarine's and I am certain that you will enjoy it as i did.

the best ever, 02 Aug 2002
A great book from Meirovitch, the father of vibrations. Like all past books in vibrations authored by Meirovitch, the present book covers every topic, but now in a state-of-art fashion. As a software application,very will written MATLAB codes are included.I think that this book is going to be the standard vibrations book in near future.

OK in some respects flawed in others, 01 Jul 2008
As another reviewer has said this is hardly a 'Master' handbook but it does have some useful and interesting things to say to the beginner. What is most disappointing is that a textbook on acoustics, printed in 2001 (the date of this edition) stills uses imperial measurements! Anywhere that distance is discussed it is given in feet and inches. This is the 21st century right? A pretty lazy attempt at updating this text.

Fantastic, 13 Jan 2004
At over 600 pages, you certainly get your money's worth with this book. It is replete with information on the design of acoutical spaces, noise isolation, reverb time, control of room resonances, room modelling and numerous other related topics. I bought this book to gain a better understanding of acoustics for the design of a home studio and it certainly paid off. It will take you a while to get through this book, but you'll be able to amaze your friends (or bore them) with your in depth understanding of acoustics. Highly recommended.

Not a Masters' book but a good place to start., 19 Jan 2002
This book is very well explained but lacks that which some may hope for from a book entitled 'The Master Handbook of Acoustics'.
If you are an 'acoustic enthusiast' and a knowledge of acoustic concepts is important to you, then, this would be worth buying - maybe an undergraduate physics/engineering student might also benefit from its approach.
However, if you are someone that wishes to go beyond, getting to the heart of problems like; noise/vibration control and acoustics, you should go for something like Frank Fahy's Engineering Acoustics, Kinsler and Frey, or, if you are up to it!, Pierce...

Outstanding!!!!!, 04 Aug 1999
To say that the Master Handbook of Acoustics is an 'incredibly comprehensive work' it's like saying that the Beatles were 'some band from Liverpool'. Without a doubt, a must-have. Better than that, buy two and enlighten a friend! :-)

Now really, this is the absolute definitive book on acoustics, covering topics ranging from sound propagation to room acoustics to absortion, diffusion, refraction, reflection, diffraction and everything else you can think of.

Perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their acoustics palet, 08 Aug 1998
This book can be a tremendous asset to anyone interested in cleaning up their audio listening invironment. It would be difficult to imagine myself not having this book around now with all the wealth of information it possesses. Highly recomended.

Music Technology Students: Buy This Book, 16 May 2008
This book is ideal for students of music technology, sound recording and acoustics as well as engineers studying audio, multi media and communication systems.
This comprehensive book covers everything, as well as having excellent online support with questions and exercises to test your knowledge, web links for further resources and research, audio clips and calculation facilities.
If any other 'reviewer' tells you that it's 'taxing' ignore them- everything is explained in plain English in a clear and concise fashion, without dumbing down.

Clear, concise and useful for self-teaching, 23 Jun 2003
I found this book vital in plugging a hole in my knowledge in the step up from undergraduate maths to post-graduate applied maths - the book's approach pleased me very much as it is rooted in the mathematics of the subject. No equation is plucked from the air - the fluid dynamics is described from first principles, for both viscous and non-viscous flows, with some investigation into boundary layers.

The exercises are particularly useful, and the answers given are detailed. Probably a good working knowledge of vector calculus is needed, although the method for calculating divergence and curl in curvilinear coords is well explained in appendices. The chapter on waves is a good read - some rather paradoxical results there.

I need the solutions manual first, 03 Feb 1998
Where can I obtain a solutions manual?

I have also been to Dr. Acheson's lectures, 25 Feb 2000
I think that the previous reviewer was a little optimistic. Acheson is a reasonable lecturer and this book does follow the first part of the Oxford University mathematics first year mechanics course well (in fact some of his problem sheets come straight from the book making it easy to complete said problem sheets!). However, the book goes into lots of, although interesting, unnecessary detail. It also does not contain anything on rotating frames of reference which is in the mechanics course at Oxford. So my advice is not to buy this book as a course guide but to get "A first course in Mechanics" by Lunn instead. However, if you want to get this book for interest then it is well worth it.

I've been to this guy's lectures, 01 Dec 1999
He's a good lecturer, doing the 1st term mechanics course (maths, the previous reviewer should note) at Oxford, much of which (and more) is covered in this book. And the book is quite decent too, especially for those such as myself who dislike mechanics dreadfully and who think it should be an option rather than an imposition - for goodness sakes, as the other reviewer implies, it just isn't maths. Still, if you are doing first year mechanics, buy this book - he has some great ideas and methods.

Excellent "interactive" introduction to nonlinear dynamics, 08 Jul 1999
This is an excellent overview of dynamics from the birth of calculus to the latest research in nonlinear dynamics - it bears all the marks of being well-honed under the test of teaching the material to students. As a physicist, Acheson doesn't get hung up on mathematical niceties at the expense of the meaning of things. A great feature is the inclusion of little computer programs written in QBASIC so that you can explore things for yourself. In the mid-1980s there were dozens of books that took this programming approach; all power to Acheson for reviving it in the face of "multimedia maths".

truly the basic handbook for anyone interested in submarines, 17 Apr 2001
The book is understandably written and the major aspects of submarine design, principles and structure are explained in a very comprehensive and illustrative manner. An overvieuw of the first submarines gives you an understanding of the evolution in submarine design. Although the book focuses more on military submarines all basic principles are explained and taken into account. From bouyancy, trim, weight assesments everything is explained in basic terms. The book is not complete in a way that someone could actually design a submarine (for example you would have to read and understand more about hydraulics or high pressure valves, air cleaningsystems and so on) but in essence all major topics are included as with the prelimary formula's (for example stability calculations or pressure hull weight). In other words the book is complete and I would consider it the basic handbook in understanding the principles in submarine design for submarine enthousiasts or naval architecs. The book starts with explaining the basic terminology which is needed to understand the rest of the material, it reads very easily so anyone with a mere interest in submersibles (not only naval architects)can enjoy the matters which the authors are dealing with. As mentioned before the book is more focused on military submarines (explaining the role of the submarine, submarine tactics, nuclear propulsion vs diesel electric or a comparison on how torpedo's can be launched). This too is quite interesting even for those who do not specifically search for data on military submarine's. I can recomend this book to anyone interested in the technical aspects of submarine's and I am certain that you will enjoy it as i did.

the best ever, 02 Aug 2002
A great book from Meirovitch, the father of vibrations. Like all past books in vibrations authored by Meirovitch, the present book covers every topic, but now in a state-of-art fashion. As a software application,very will written MATLAB codes are included.I think that this book is going to be the standard vibrations book in near future.

Wonderful Book, 28 Apr 2005
I think this is one of the best books on Physical Acoustics.
I would recommend this book to anyone starting to learn acoustics. This statement does not mean that advanced students should not go for this book, as it also covers advanced materials.

My opinion about the book can resumed as follows:

- Clear and concise
- Relatively easy to follow / Very good for self-studying.
- Very good presentation
- There is a derivation (or instructions on how to get) to almost every equation in the book.
- Not too theoretical. Many practical interpretations of the mathematical results are given. (percentage of mathematics well balanced)
- The author makes apparently difficult material simple!

From this book one can jump to more advanced texts (Theoretical Acoustics by Morse and Ingard and Acoustics - An Introduction to its Physical Principles and Applications by Pierce).

Fundamentals of Acoustics by Kinsler et al is also a good book for a beginner, but I think this one is much better.

Moral of the story, I really like this book!

Ps: This is an opinion of a beginner on Physical Acoustics more interested in air applications, that never had lessons about this topic. I don't know if my opinion will change as my knowledge on this field increases. I doubt it!